Our Refuge Psalm 7 We seek shelter from certain events or happenings in our lives. In this area, we especially seek shelter when a storm comes. Why do we seek shelter? Because the people here in 1982 lived through a devastating tornado, and the people that were not here heed the warning of those who were here. In our spiritual walk, there will be times when we need a refuge or a shelter from what life throws at us. David writes plenty about his struggles with life and with sin. He writes also of his enemies as they seek to destroy him. This is what we see in this Psalm. He is seeking God of refuge or shelter. Although we love the idea of choice - our culture almost worships it - we seek refuge in the familiar and the comfortable. Hugh Mackay “Where does your security lie? Is God your refuge, your hiding place, your stronghold, your shepherd, your counselor, your friend, your redeemer, your saviour, your guide? If He is, you don't need to search any further for security.” ― Elisabeth Elliot “The all-victorious Christ is like a great rock in a weary land, to whose shelter we may flee in every time of sorrow or trial, finding quiet refuge and peace in him.” ― J.R. Miller I. Why Trust God? A. The word for trust that David uses in this verse implies a seeking of refuge. B. It implies seeking protection. C. Looking for a safe place to exist. D. We find ourselves in need of a safe place to exist when the world is on us. E. We find ourselves in need of a safe place to exist when we are entangled in sin. F. We seek our a safe comfortable place when we need to regroup and find God’s way in our life again. G. David seeks this protection or refuge, deliverance or rescue and salvation or victory in God. H. When we find ourselves in need of this refuge and protection, how many times do we turn to the place that is causing the strife in our lives for comfort? I. If your burn your hand, will you stick it in fire to soothe it? J. If fall and break your arm, will you keep falling on the arm to find comfort? K. If living in sin and in the world causes you to seek refuge, protection and victory, are you going to keep looking in the world for comfort? L. David says here that he is looking to God. M. He is turning to God for the victory. N. When we trust in God, we have victory over our enemies. O. We have comfort from the miserable condition of sin in our lives. II. Seeking Refuge in God Brings Rescue A. Recue implies danger. B. Rescue implies necessity. C. Rescue implies a need. D. David describes the pain at this time of his life as coming from his enemies. E. He uses the word persecute. F. This means to seek to secure or to harass. G. His enemies were looking for his capture. H. They wanted to make sure that he was miserable and that he never had any comfort or security. I. The Devil wants to ensure that you have no comfort or security. J. Isaiah 14:15 describes the incident that necessitates Lucifer or Satan being thrown from the Glory of Heaven and being cast into Hell- which is described in the Hebrew word as the place of no return, the underworld, the pit, the abode of the dead, the place without praise of God, and the place of punishment for sin. K. Matthew 25:41 describes Hell as the place that was prepared (carries with it the meaning as in ancient oriental custom of someone smoothing the road for those to follow) L. The Devil makes it easy to follow him. M. There is nothing for you to do as we see in John chapter 3:17 that the world (me and you) is condemned already. N. Without trusting God with your life, you remain in the need of rescue or deliverance. O. You are on the smooth wide path that Satan has you on. P. You are in need of victory in your life. Q. David refers to the tearing of his soul like from a lion. R. I Peter 5:8 tells us to be watchful and careful because the devil is roaming about like a lion looking to devour us. III. David Knew that True Victory was Found in God A. We like to win. B. We are a nation of winners. C. We want to be the best at everything. D. We are competitive people. E. We not only want to win, our society tells us we must dominate. F. When we do not win, we become angry and depressed. G. We want to seek revenge on those that have claimed victory over us. H. If it is so hard for us as people to accept defeat, then why do so many people choose not to accept Jesus Christ as their Savior? I. The ultimate victory, a victory over death. J. Unless Jesus returns, death is guaranteed for all of us. K. Unless we trust Jesus to rescue us, spiritual death has victory over us. L. Hell has victory over us. M. Through Jesus Christ, we have victory over death. N. I Corinthians 15:55-57 says, “O Death where is thy sting? O grave where is thy victory? O. Skip to verse 57: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory though our Lord Jesus Christ.” P. The word victory here implies an utter annihilation of the opponent. Q. This is what we are taught in our society, we have the opportunity to dominate in complete victory with Jesus as our savior. Seek him while you can. Follow him while you can. Trust in him and seek refuge and victory in your life. Victory over death and the grave.